宏智禪師廣錄 3.40

3.40

舉石梯問侍者。什麼處去。者云。上堂齋去。梯云。我豈不知汝上堂齋去。者云。除此外別道什麼。梯云。我祇問汝本分事。者云。若問本分事。某甲實是上堂齋公。梯云。不謬為吾侍者。師云。放過即不可。如今直與扭得鼻孔痛。打得骨頭出。始得免見瞎驢趁大隊。所以道平地上死人無數。透得荊棘林是好手。且道。適來這僧透得也未。多虛不如少實。

[The Master] cited: Shiti asked his attendant: “Where are you going?” The attendant said: “Going to the hall for the meal.” Shiti said: “Could I not know that you are going to the hall for the meal?” The attendant said: “Besides this, what else could be said?” Shiti said: “I only asked you about the fundamental affair.” The attendant said: “If asking about the fundamental affair, I truly am going to the hall for the meal.” Shiti said: “You are truly not mistaken to be my attendant.”
The Master said: “Letting it go will not do. Right now one must directly twist his nostrils until they hurt and beat him until his bones come out, only then avoiding seeing a blind donkey following the great herd. Therefore it is said: countless people die on level ground; one who can penetrate the thorn thicket is a skilled hand. And tell me: did this monk just now penetrate it or not? Much emptiness is not as good as a little reality.”